HBCU talent shines as 3 players land on FCS preseason All-America list

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The 2026 HBCU football season is less than a month from kicking off, and the preseason honors continue to roll in.

This time, STATS Perform has released its FCS preseason All-American team, which features three HBCU names.

Second Team

Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T, punt returner

Kennedy enters the season with preseason All-America recognition, backed by a highly productive 2025 campaign that established him as one of the FCS’s most efficient return specialists. He led the subdivision with 979 combined kick-return yards, averaged 16.1 yards per punt return, and added two punt-return touchdowns, highlighting both his consistency and big-play capability.

Photo: North Carolina A&T

 

Third Team

Quaveon Davis, offensive lineman, Jackson State

Davis, an All-SWAC lineman, helped lead a dominant run game with three 500-yard rushers, including a 1,000-yard back Ahmad Miller, as the offense ranked among the nation’s best.

Photo: Jackson State Athletics

Davis posted an 88 percent block grade with 27 pancakes and allowed just 1.5 sacks, earning First Team Preseason All-SWAC honors.

Jordan Franklin, linebacker, South Carolina State

Franklin, a 2025 First Team All-MEAC selection, recorded 62 total tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and 12 total tackles for loss to help anchor a defense that was among the best in the conference a year ago.

Photo: South Carolina State